posted at 12:01 pm on March 12, 2014 by Ed Morrissey

Washington DC Mayor Vincent Gray has a real scandal on his hands, but it may do a lot more damage than first thought. As part of the corruption investigation into Gray’s 2010 campaign, Jeffrey Thompson pled guilty to conspiracy charges and worked with prosecutors on their probe into Gray. However, Thompson had a lot more to discuss than just municipal campaigns — fingering a key adviser to Hillary Clinton and alleging a conspiracy to conduct an illegal shadow campaign in 2008:

A longtime adviser to Hillary Rodham Clinton personally sought and secured the funding for what prosecutors say was an illegal shadow operation to boost Clinton’s 2008 presidential bid, according to court papers released as part of a wide-ranging campaign finance investigation.

Thompson financed the operation through his accounting firm, at times funneling funds through a company owned by a longtime associate. A spokeswoman said Moore did not know that Thompson was funding the project off the books, adding that Moore had asked Thompson to raise money directly for the campaign.

Prosecutors said they had no evidence showing Clinton was aware of the efforts.

The Post’s Matea Gold and Rosalind Helderman offer a very detailed look at the effort, which began late in the 2008 primary cycle. By February 2008, Hillary had already been set back on her heels in fundraising and support by the upstart Barack Obama campaign, which stunned everyone with its effectiveness. According to the court papers, that’s when Moore began working to find a way around the campaign-finance restrictions, especially to fund GOTV efforts.

The effort included people from League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC), even though the organization supposedly refrains from endorsements. It’s a 501(c)4, according to its website, although it takes a little digging to find the reference. That makes it the same as those conservative groups attacked by the IRS — a category which is designed for groups that are primarily oriented to “social welfare,” and which cannot endorse or work for candidates. The “street teams” provided by LULAC and funded through off-the-books cash distributed campaign materials for Hillary, the papers allege, among other activities. If true, LULAC will, or at least should, have major issues with their tax status that year.

The Dewey Square Group public affairs firm where Moore works said in a statement Tuesday that Moore “fully cooperated with the government’s investigation and the facts make clear that she was entirely unaware of any inappropriate activities and at all times conducted herself, as she always has, not only in full compliance with the law but in accordance with the highest ethical and professional standards.”

“Nothing that happened yesterday changes these facts,” the statement said.

The firm also fired back at The Washington Post, which first reported the new details, for the newspaper’s perceived implication that Moore was asking for funding she knew was illegal.

”The article posted online today by The Washington Post regarding Minyon Moore is inaccurate,” the firm said. “Nowhere in the Statement of Offense from March 10, 2014 does it say Ms. Moore sought funds for an ‘illegal’ campaign.

“The Statement of Offense says Ms. Moore asked Jeffrey Thompson to fund street teams. In fact she asked Thompson to contribute and raise money directly for the campaign so the campaign could afford to execute a field program in constituent communities. Her actions were legal.”

Possibly her actions were legal, thanks to the vagaries of campaign-finance laws. LULAC might not get so lucky. Even so, this smells bad, especially given the fact that Moore appears to have done this when Team Hillary got very, very desperate — and still lost a fight that was supposed to be a coronation.

Blowback

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It really doesn’t make a difference. Only one of the Demonrats running for mayor have not received contributions from Uncle Earl. They are quick to point out that these contributions were legal and above board. Nevertheless, it points out the cesspool that comes from single party rule.

DC Dems are running scared. The demographics are shifting and the next mayor may not necessarily be black. So, the black Democrats are also accusing the white Democrats of being racists. Fun to watch.

DC Dems are running scared. The demographics are shifting and the next mayor may not necessarily be black. So, the black Democrats are also accusing the white Democrats of being racists. Fun to watch.

Happy Nomad on March 12, 2014 at 12:16 PM

Running scared? no, just a little testy because a lot of them will not win reelection. They won’t start running scared until after Erick Holder is no longer the AG, and even then, only if the new AG starts prosecuting political corruption, which tragically, isn’t likely to happen.

Twasn’t the witch. Twas the candy house. Ain’t puttin’ no candy house on that shrill cvnt.

Lanceman on March 12, 2014 at 12:52 PM

Evil old witches fool young people all the time by pretending to be sweet old grandmothers… You and I know exactly what Hillary is… but she will fool an amazing number of young people by pretending to be a sweet old grandmother…

2008? Most federal crimes, except for murder, have a 5 year statute of limitations, but if that’s your defense you are guilty.

Besides, someone who’s so smart that she can turn a $1000 investment in cattle futures into $100,000 in less than a year despite not having any previous experience and no desire to do it again should not have to resort to skullduggery for campaign finances. Just bet everything on 0 and spin the roulette wheel.

Thompson financed the operation through his accounting firm, at times funneling funds through a company owned by a longtime associate.

What an idiot. he could have just done what Barky did in 2008, turn off the AVS on Shrillary’s campaign credit card page and then he could have just bought tons of anonymous pre-pay credit cards and donated as much as he wanted under all sorts of names, like Doodad Pro, John Galt, Joseph Stalin, and Mickey Mouse. It worked for Barky to the tune of hundreds of millions (not some paltry three-quarter million) and no one in government even bothered raising a peep about it, then or now. He might have even been able to get a Rezco sham real estate deal in the process …

Besides, someone who’s so smart that she can turn a $1000 investment in cattle futures into $100,000 in less than a year despite not having any previous experience and no desire to do it again should not have to resort to skullduggery for campaign finances.

rbj on March 12, 2014 at 1:06 PM

And don’t forget, Shrillary was good enough at cattle futures that she somehow managed to not have to make margin calls, either. Now, that is pure skill and flat-out Smarts Power!

If this gains any traction (not likely), Jeffrey Thompson would be well advised to never get anywhere near Fort Marcy Park.

Bitter Clinger on March 12, 2014 at 12:41 PM

It won’t gain traction. Killary’s supporters are very careful in branding. The whole point of that “Ban Bossy” thing by the Facebook CEO is, IMO, to make it that much harder to attack a “girl” running for President come 2016.

You need to think of a different analogy, O-Scar. How many kiddies want their grandmother in the WH? They want them in the kitchen baking cookies.

Lanceman on March 12, 2014 at 1:27 PM

Nope, these kiddies aren’t smart enough to know that grandmothers know how to bake… (or at least should know how to bake) the one lonely brain cell these kids have, is tided up in the corner by a bit of hemp…

Fort Marcy Park is a big place but it will be covered with bodies if Killary gets the nomination and if she gets elected will be three deep by the end of her first term.
If anyone thinks the Presstitutes in the Manure Spreading Media are fawning over King Putt you ain’t seen NOTHING yet if Killary runs for and is elected POTUS.
The Forth Estate will become a directly controlled appendage of the Executive Branch. Much worse than it is now.

Fort Marcy Park is a big place but it will be covered with bodies if Killary gets the nomination, if she gets elected will be three deep by the end of her first term.
If anyone thinks the Presstitutes in the Manure Spreading Media are fawning over King Putt you ain’t seen NOTHING yet if Killary runs for and is elected POTUS.
The Forth Estate will become a directly controlled appendage of the Executive Branch. Much worse than it is now.

And as always, if this story were connected to a Republican candidate, even with proof that the candidate was unaware of any improper activities, they would be tarnished as a scandalous crook. Meanwhile, liberals deny and get an instant pass.

There can’t possibly be anyone who is surprised when Hillary Clinton is connected with shady political dealings. It’s mother’s milk to her.